undermine

vt.

1. 在某物下挖洞或挖通道; 侵蚀…的基础
   • Badgers had undermined the foundations of the church.
     獾在这座教堂的地基处打了洞。
   • The soldiers undermined the wall.
     士兵们在墙下挖洞。
   • Rivers undermine their banks.
     河水冲刷堤基。
   • The house is unsafe since the foundations were undermined by floods.
     这栋房子不安全, 因为地基被洪水损坏了。
2. 暗中破坏; 逐渐削弱
   • Illness undermined his strength.
     疾病逐渐削弱了他的力气。
   • Many severe colds undermined the old man's health.
     多次严重的感冒损害了老人的健康。
   • Insults undermined her confidence.
     一再受到侮辱之后, 她渐渐丧失信心。
   • She tried to undermine our friendship.
     她试图破坏我们的友谊。
   • These incidents could seriously undermine support for the police.
     这些事件会严重影响对警方的支持。
   • The President's enemies are spreading rumours to undermine his authority.
     总统的敌人在散布谣言以逐渐破坏他的威信。